Bluebirds “shout” to be heard over the noise produced by humans, new research has shown.

They alter their songs immediately after noise levels intensified, such as from traffic, the study showed, and made “real-time” adjustments in order to produce songs that are both louder and lower-pitched.

The results reported by Caitlin Kight, a behavioural ecologist based at the University of Exeter, suggest that birds are able to perceive increases in noise and respond accordingly – not unlike humans do in raucous settings.

Bulldog attack breeder jailed

A bulldog breeder who lost an arm after being savaged by his own dogs has been jailed after his animals attacked a 63-year-old man.

Stephen Potts, 48, from Low Pittington, County Durham, had only left hospital a few weeks after losing his arm before the incident with dog walker Lindsay Edwards.

Judge Christopher Prince, sitting at Durham Crown Court, jailed him for three months and banned him from owning dogs for life.

Adventurer Fogle on shark hunt

Adventurer Ben Fogle has embarked on an expedition to hunt for great white sharks in UK waters, using the carcass of a 30-foot whale as bait.

The investigation will reveal the hidden creatures lurking in British seas for an upcoming ITV documentary fronted by the presenter. It is believed to be the first whale-fall experiment to take place in the UK, recreating what happens when a whale drops to the bottom of the ocean once it dies.

The Shark Trust said its former chairman, Richard Peirce, had investigated over 100 sightings of great whites in Britain, describing a “handful of the sightings” as “credible”.

Scuba smuggler leads to tunnel

The arrest of a drug smuggler in scuba gear led to the discovery of a tunnel from Mexico.

Evelio Padilla, of Honduras, pleaded guilty in federal court in San Diego to one count of possession of drugs with intent to distribute.

Border Patrol agents discovered Padilla in a wetsuit next to the All-American Canal, about seven miles east of Calexico, California. Near him, they found several vacuum-sealed packages filled with cocaine and later discovered the 230ft-long tunnel, which began at a house in Mexicali, Mexico, and ended under the water of the canal.

Annual Zombie walk is dead

It seems money is the best medicine to put the undead to rest: The annual New Jersey Zombie Walk has fallen victim to rising costs and growing popularity.

The free event began with a group of friends shuffling and groaning their way through Asbury Park seven years ago. It grew in size over the years and raised money for charities.

In 2013, Guinness World Records certified nearly 10,000 zombies were the world’s largest gathering of the undead.

Organiser Jason Meehan said costs have risen and the decayed buildings that once served as the event’s backdrop in the city have been replaced by new flats and restaurants. Meehan is tentatively planning an October 3 “funeral” on the Asbury boardwalk.

Bollywood ban for militant movie

A lawyer for a wanted Pakistani militant leader says a court has banned an upcoming Bollywood movie that imagines his client being assassinated.

Lawyer AK Dogar says the Lahore High Court ruled that the film Phantom should not be shown in Pakistan.

he ruling comes two weeks after Hafiz Saeed, a Pakistani with a $10 million bounty on his head over his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, filed a motion asking that the film be banned. He said it posed a threat to his life.